Pope Leo XIV Urges Global Peace in First Sunday Blessing

On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV appeared once again on the balcony where he was introduced as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church just days earlier, using the occasion of his first Sunday blessing to appeal for peace.

Addressing a vast crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he emphatically declared, “Never again war,” directing his message to the world’s most influential leaders. He reflected on the approaching 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, describing it as an “immense tragedy,” and referenced his predecessor’s depiction of the current global conflicts as “a third world war in pieces.”

The pontiff specifically called for a genuine, just, and enduring peace in Ukraine, urging the release of all prisoners involved in the conflict. He also emphasized the importance of reuniting children with their families, alluding to reports of Ukrainian children being relocated to Russia against their families’ wishes.